Tag Archives: Keynote Speaker for Entrepreneurs

Ten years ago, Marissa McTasney sold her first pair of pink work boots – the trademark product of her company Moxie Trades Ltd. – to a U.S. customer through her online store.

But she waited another five years to fully launch into the U.S. market to make sure she had the knowledge base, market strategy and inventory in place to tackle this new and potentially lucrative market.

Since then Ms. McTasney’s U.S. base has grown to 30 per cent of her $2-million-a-year sales, including a recent partnership with industrial safety product supplier Illinois-based W.W. Grainger Inc.

America first

But with U.S. President Donald Trump’s protectionist “America first” talk, which includes discussions of increased domestic manufacturing and heavy taxes on competing imports, Canadian business owners such as Ms. McTasney are feeling concerned about what lies ahead.

Many, however, have no option but to look at the much bigger market south of us.

“For me, it’s quite significant and I’ve been looking to grow the U.S. business so that I’m not so vulnerable here in Canada,” she says. “There are not a lot of large retailers in Canada, so I wanted to diversify.”

The founder of Moxie Trades slayed a Dragon on CBC, wore pink work boots, stripped down on TV, and ten years later is daring women to take on their own fearless adventures. Marissa McTasney launches the Moxie Pledge and a chance to win grant for tackling fearless initiatives.

Marissa McTasney; Founder and CEO of Moxie Trades celebrates the Original Pink Work Boot’s ten year anniversary by observing March 27th as National Day of Moxie – daring women to find and celebrate their “inner moxie”, or the ability to face fear with spirit and courage.

Moxie women can take the pledge confirming their inner moxie by visiting www.moxieday.com and enter for a chance to win $1,000 grant towards their goal of facing their individual fearless adventures.

Moxie Trades, the maker of the now infamous pink work boot “Betsy”, had humble beginnings as a small Canadian startup. They said it would never work, but “they” were wrong. Through her distribution partner TT Group, Moxie Trades now ships worldwide and can be found in over 500 retail outlets across North America.

McTasney famously ditched her high heels for work boots and she’s been knocking down walls and pounding the pavement with Moxie Trades ever since. McTasney even stripped down on the set of TheNaked Entrepreneurhosted by Sean Wise which can be seen on the Oprah Network this month. Her latest activities include marching with the Women’s March Global Team and she strives to highlight the importance of economic prosperity for women.

“Our company has never been about the work boots; it’s always been about the women who wear them” says McTasney; Chief Work Boot Wearer.

With every purchase of the 10th Anniversary Special Edition Pink Work Boot, Moxie shoppers receive a Raglan Shirt and Key chain to mark the occasion. Ten percent of online sales at www.moxietrades.com for the Pink Promo pack will go towards grants for women who wear work boots.

Founded in 2006, Moxie Trades began with the goal of providing home renovation services primarily by teams of women. Fate intervened as the brand grew and it direction changed to suit the needs of the market. Through sheer grit and determination, Moxie Trades has evolved into the most recognized brand of safety footwear for women in Canada. We strive to deliver the best product with the best customer service for women who work in the trades. Our products – ranging from work boots to protective eye wear can be found in retailers across North America.

In the eyes of Boris Wertz, founder of Version One Ventures, being a successful venture capitalist means, “remembering you are a coach, not a player.” Hear more from Wertz in the latest Startup Canada Podcast, brought to you by .CA, Quickbooks Online, Steadfastbeta, and TruShield. New episodes go live every Tuesday at 10am ET!

Startup Canada partners with the Startup Youth movement

Jenny Hua, the creator of an app that connects parents to babysitters, won a pitch competition organized by Startup Youth during a March Break Bootcamp for high-school aged entrepreneurs in Ottawa. Click here to see what these talented young innovators got up to!

Read these inspiring success stories of women entrepreneurs, featured on the Canada Business Network! From a health startup to a clothing empire, these women entrepreneurs have grown socially-conscience and innovative business worth celebrating.

Marissa McTasney has built a business on thinking pink. The founder and co-owner of women’s work boot maker Moxie Trades is on a mission to promote women in the skilled trades by providing them with the right safety gear. Girl Power: Women’s workboot brand Moxie Trades add a touch of pink to blue-collar jobs.
Read the entire Footwear News Magazine article about Marissa McTasney on page 22 Footwear News Oct. 2015 Issue

“Dream big, think the impossible, love passionately, and give generously.” This is the mantra Marissa McTasney created for herself. When McTasney started Moxie Trades, she didn’t have the skills, knowledge, experience or even a mentor. All she had was an opportunity. She dove in head-first, quickly landing a big contract with Home Depot and made a deal with Brett Wilson from Dragons’ Den. Now Moxie Trades is a successful handy-women apparel line that can be found in large retail stores across North America. How was McTasney able to transform an opportunity into a business? She created her own definition of success. In this edition of the Startup Canada Podcast with host Rivers Corbett, Marissa McTasney explains how she found her moxie, grew a company and became a champion for women in entrepreneurship and trades.